Match Report : 14/04/2015

A Cole-den wonder strike from Skuse has given Town a grip on the Play-Off places.

The midfielder smashed in his first goal for the Club since joining from Bristol City in the summer of 2013 in sensational style to give Blues three massive points.

Freddie Sears’ third goal in two games gave Town an early advantage but Cardiff levelled before the celebrations had died down through Eoin Doyle’s header.

Skuse then took over centre stage with a 30 yarder just before the half hour and he almost grabbed a second late on with a volley that forced David Marshall into action.

Daryl Murphy made sure of the points with his 24th goal of the season in added on time after Skuse sent him through on goal as Town took a giant stride towards the end of season shoot-out.

Town made two changes to the side that beat Blackpool at the weekend, Jonathan Parr and Stephen Hunt coming in for Jay Tabb and the injured Luke Varney.

Blues started on the front foot and Luke Chambers headed over from a Teddy Bishop corner, the same source supplying Murphy who nodded wide from a free-kick before Sears found the net on eight minutes, the striker getting on the end of Christophe Berra’s ball over the top and shrugging off Bruno Ecuele Manga before beating Marshall.

The lead only lasted five minutes, Scott Malone sent in a terrific cross from the left and Doyle’s firm header left Bart Bialkowski with no chance.

Parr miskicked after Sears had hooked the ball back into the danger area, while at the other end Berra had to be alert to cancel out the threat from Joe Mason.

Sears almost got in after Hunt knocked the ball on, Berra then joining Skuse in the book for a foul on Doyle.

Aron Gunnarsson headed wide from a free-kick, Bishop close to weaving his way to goal before Blues struck again on the half hour and in sensational style, Skuse’s rocket from 30 yards nestling in the corner.

Marshall held firm from Murphy’s cross after the Republic of Ireland international had escaped down the left, Parr then delaying his shot in the box after another Murphy delivery.

Tommy Smith couldn’t keep his header down from Bishop’s corner but Cardiff should have been level just before the break, Mason rolled the ball across goal but with the net beckoning, Fabio sidefooted wide from six yards.

Bialkowski plucked Peter Whittingham’s cross out of the air as the second-half got underway, Marshall then keeping out Murphy’s close range header as Blues threatened a third.

Berra cleared as Doyle burst through, Town then making a first change with Tabb on for Hunt just before the hour.

Fabio and Tyrone Mings were both booked after squaring up, the Brazilian replaced soon after by Craig Noone.

Sears went down in the box after Murphy’s shot was blocked, seconds later Doyle’s strike from the angle drifted wide.

Bishop did superbly to cut out a dangerous cross from Joe Ralls before Blues made a second change, Paul Anderson on for Parr.

Sears’ free-kick was deflected wide, Marshall then doing brilliantly to keep out Smith’s header from the corner, Berra lashing the rebound against the bar.

Gunnarsson poked his shot wide from a fantastic position after Craig Noone had set him up as the Bluebirds wasted a chance to level five minutes from time.

Marshall then saved from Skuse but Murphy wrapped up the points with a last minute goal to lift Blues into the driving seat for the Play-Offs, three points clear of Wolves and Brentford in sixth place with three games to go - the first a trip to Molineux on Saturday.